University diversity drive ‘failing poorest’

Only ten more students from poorer areas applied this year compared with last yearALAMY

A high-profile drive to improve social diversity on campuses led to only ten extra university applications from the poorest communities in Scotland.

Updated statistics from Ucas, the admissions body, show that there were 7,210 applications from the most deprived communities for the upcoming academic year, compared with 7,200 last year. There were 12,760 applications from the richest postcode areas.

The SNP government wants to increase the number of undergraduates from the most deprived areas and has imposed strict targets on the higher education sector. While numbers have generally been increasing over recent years, progress has been slow.

Universities can offer lower entry requirements to those from traditionally poor areas, a practice that is controversial as a cap on student numbers north of the border means…

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